Coalition of Theatres of Color to Hold Town Hall Meeting, 6/4

The Coalition of Theatres of Color (CTC), an historical assemblage of 12 of the oldest ethnically specific, multicultural theatrical and cultural institutions in New York, invites the public to a Town Hall Meeting to discuss "Can NYC's Theatres of Color Survive in the New Economy?" on June 4 at 6PM at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St. & Lenox Avenue) in Harlem.

The Town Hall Meeting will focus on suggested remedies elected officials, public and private grantors and arts patrons can do to ensure that New York's Theatres of Color receive equitable funding. CTC was founded in 2004 at the urging of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee to address inequitable funding for theatrical institutions of color. CTC members continue to advocate, through these town hall meetings, for parity in funding and resource allocation between its members. Historically, the productions and presentations by CTC members reflects the best of the artistry and culture of New York City's people of color; yet, according to various reports, CTC members receive less than one-tenth of one percent of the total funds earmarked for arts and culture from city, state and private funding.

The CTC institutions have a tradition of addressing the needs of the community and preserving and promoting its cultural heritage. The CTC believes that multicultural institutions are an indispensible tool for creativity and survival.

Some of America's most high profile actors from Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Laurence Fishburne, Phylicia Rashad and Lucy Liu to Alimi Ballard ("Numb3rs," "Fast Five"), Daniel Dae Kim ("Lost,""Hawaii Five-O") and Donald Faison ("Scrubs," "Clueless") got their acting careers started on the stages of CTC's historically multicultural New York City theatres. While there has been a growth in Broadway shows featuring Black stories, the talented actors, writers, producers, technicians, designers, directors, dancers and choreographers are still sharpening their craft at historically Black and multicultural theatres.

Collectively CTC members brings over 350 years of artistic achievement with critically acclaimed and award-winning presentations. New York City members are AUDELCO, (Manhattan) Black Spectrum Theatre (Queens), Billie Holiday Theatre (Brooklyn), H.A.D.L.E.Y Players (Manhattan), Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center (Bronx), National Black Theatre (Manhattan), Negro Ensemble Company (Manhattan), New Federal Theatre (Manhattan), New Heritage Theatre Group (Manhattan), Pan Asian Repertory Theatre (Manhattan), Paul Robeson Theater (Brooklyn), and The Afrikan Poetry Theatre (Queens).

For more information, call New Heritage Theatre Group at 212 926 2550.